Work Text:
The day was going by as gloriously easily as any other. Boringly successful.
Consumed by his thoughts, Reigen had just lit up a cigarette, deeply inhaling the first puff of smoke. Maybe, just maybe, it was yet again time for a new life. Something that would hopefully bring a spark of light to his life.
Suddenly, the door swung open.
“Excuse me, I saw your sign and thought I'd stop by.”
Instinctively, he put out the cigarette. While he had never had any clients complain about the lingering smell of smoke in the room, Reigen wasn’t going to push his luck by deliberately smoking in front of them.
“Sure, come on in! So, how may I-”
It was just a kid at the door. He couldn’t be older than ten, a little less if his small complexion and slightly high pitched voice were anything to go by.
“Alright, young man. So, what do you want?”
The kid looked up at him, still standing steady at the door.
“Well, uhm… I have powers.”
“Huh?”
“If I try I can see people’s names and how much they are going to live. Sometimes I can’t control my powers too well, and it gets kinda scary.”
Reigen couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Powers? People 's names? Lifespans? This had to be a prank, a really badly planned one at it.
“Lemme guess, did someone tell you to come here and say that to me?”
The kid’s face changed entirely. “No! I haven’t talked about this with anyone. I saw your sign and thought… you may have the same kind of abilities. If I try, I can see spirits too. At least, I think that’s what they are. And people… That part is more scary.”
A pathological liar? Overactive imagination maybe? Reigen thought to himself. There were a hundred more logical explanations. Though, he couldn’t quite shake the feeling whatever it was truly behind the story, it was really bothering the kid. Reluctantly, he gave in.
“Well, come on in.”
“...Sure”
Reigen pointed at the couch, inviting the boy to sit. He had some nice hot tea always ready for whenever a client dropped by, and poured some for himself and the kid. Maybe, if he was relaxed, whatever story he was making up would feel less heavy on him and he would leave on his own after playing along a little.
“I was troubled back when I was a little kid too.”
The boy reacted by staring in awe, eyes lighting up as if a whole new world had just opened before him. For a second, he could have almost fooled Reigen into believing his story. Such intricate fantasies must have gotten to his head, to the point they were truly affecting his mental state. Reigen hoped that, by playing along, the loneliness which most likely made him get so fully into the fantasy would ease a little. At least enough so that the kid would go home and stop bothering him while a potential client could be waiting.
“Listen, just because you have powers and special abilities, it doesn't mean you are any less of a human than anyone else. There are people who are fast, people who are book smart, and people with strong body odor.”
The kid stared, eyes wide with attention. Reigen stood up to sit on the table between them, closing the distance.
“Psychic powers are just like that, another characteristic. You must embrace that characteristic as a part of yourself and continue to live positively. After all, the truth behind one's charm is kindness. So, just be a good person, you got it?”
He finished his speech with a pat on the shoulder he hoped was comforting enough to the kid. His wide-eyed gaze and surprised expression never went away. Instead, what Reigen guessed was the faint trace of a smile formed on his tiny features.
“So may I come by and talk to you again?”
While Reigen appreciated the kindness, he wasn’t sure how willing he was to be playing a part in the kid’s game regularly.
“Yeahhh, I’m not so sure about that; I’m pretty busy, y'know? Anyway, you should go home for dinner.”
He stopped to take a sip of his drink, trusting it would be warm after his speech. Somehow, it was still scalding hot, making him drop the cupin surprise.
“MOVE, YOU’LL GET BURNT!”
The kid moved out of the way, and helping to pick up the cup, said, “You don’t have to worry about burning, Reigen-san, there’s no spirits around to take you.”
Reigen turned around to find paper towels and begin cleaning up. Abruptly, he froze on his tracks as the realization hit.
Had the kid just said his name?
Reigen had run out of business cards about a week ago, and his name was written nowhere else to be found in the office. He was suddenly grateful it was the boy holding the cups instead of him. It was his last set of nice cups.
“Hey- You said you could see spirits too, didn’t you? Do you know how to communicate with them?”
“Uh-huh,” the boy said with a shy nod.
“Alright. Come again tomorrow, same time, okay?”
He shot up with excitement. “Yeah! Really?”
“I’ll show you exactly how to use your powers.”
He smiled as he waved goodbye at the kid. The boy was an exceptional business opportunity, he couldn’t lie. If he played his cards well enough, maybe the Spirits & Such office wasn’t as doomed as he thought mere minutes before. However, there was something in the way the boy looked at him, holding both cups in tiny hands while staring with such an indescribable look that took over his entire body; as if Reigen wore the planets and the stars on his pink tie as the moon adorned the lapel of his well-worn suit. It was endearing in a way Reigen couldn’t quite explain. The boy must have felt so lonely before finding the office.
He felt a pang of guilt he quickly shut down. As he fought it down, repeating to himself over and over it was a fair trade, he began thinking. It was only then he realized he never got around to asking the kid his name. Maybe it was the shock of having his own called out of nowhere, but had to make sure he asked the next day before he forgot. The boy looked like such a part of a mob, hard to pick out, and yet, he held an universe larger than what most would ever experience.
Maybe he would keep Spirits & Such open.